Can opener



Jan. 1, 1923.

w. s. PERRY. CAN OPENER.

Fl LED Die. 9, I 92] jzgraz 2 SHEETS'SHEET 1 Jam. 36, 1923. 1,442,734

I W. S PERRY.

CAN OPENER.

Fl LED DEC. 9. I92] 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented Jan. 16, 1923. i

Ii ST WILLIAM S. PERRY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE WOPECO MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

CAN OPENER.

Application filed December 9, 1921. Serial No. 521,173.

To (all 1.0710111 'nm e/ concern Be it known that I, VViLLIAM S. PERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can Openers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has reference to a new and improved can opener the object of which, among other things, is to provide a device that is simple, both in its structure and op eration, can be produced at the minim-um cost, and will open a can with the minimum expenditure of time and labor.

To these and other ends my invention consists inthe can opener having certain details of construction and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings in which like characters of reference designate like parts in the several figures;

Figure 1 is a view of the can opener as applied in operative position to a can, the out therein being partially complete;

Figure 2 is an elevation of my improved can opener when closed;

Figure 3 is another elevation thereof looking toward the right of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the knife carrier; and

Figure 5 is a view of the cutter.

In the practice of my invention I provide a base member 10 having a handle portion 11 at one end and a head portion 12 at the other end. This latter is preferably provided with laterally projecting arms 13 having, if desired, lugs 32 thereon, a tooth 14 upon the end thereof and a second tooth 15 upon the underside thereof.

Through the base member 10 is an opening 16 at the inner end of an opening 17 which may he provided, if desired, to reduce the weight of the base member 10.

The top face 18 of the tooth 14 is insubstantially the same line as the underside of the base member 10 and the tooth 15 inclines forwardly toward the tooth 14, as is clearly shown in Figure 3. It is desirable that the tooth 15 be so projected relatively to the tooth 14, but is not essential to the operation of the device as a tooth at a right angle to the base member or any other angle could be operated equally as successfully.

Connected with the head portion 12 is a post 19 upon which is mounted a swivel member 20 that is held against axial movement thereon by the screw 21.

Hinged to the swivel member 20 by the pin 22 is an arm 23 having on the outer end thereof a handle 24, Slidably mounted upon the, arm 23 is a carriage 25. This is preferably formed substantially U-shape as shown in Figure 4 with the free ends secured together by the studs 26 or similar means and adjacent thereto is a spring 27 which rests upon one face of the arm 23 with sufficient pressure to prevent accidental movement of the carriage 25 thereon. lVithin this carriage 25 is mounted the cutter 28 through the shank of which is an opening 29 of substantially the same shape in cross-section as that of the arm 23, which projects therethrough and holds the cutter against movement in relation thereto, except when shifted along the arm with the carriage 25.

Obviously the shape of the carriage 25 and the method of associating the cutter with the arm may be modified within the spirit of my invention and still perform the function required thereof, and the spring 27 can also be omitted without impairing the effectiveness of my device.

In'Figures 2 and 3 the can opener is shown in its non-use position, at which time the arm 23 lies substantially parallel with the base member 10 and the sharpened end of the cutter 28 is projecting into the opening 16.

With the parts in these relative positions the can opener occupies the minimum amount of space. The cutter 28 when. thus located is protected against injury by the walls of the opening 16 and also by one or more lugs 30 upon the base member 10, if the latter is not thick enough at this point to project beyond the point of the cutter.

To open a can the operator first projects the tooth 14 through the head of the can at substantially the center thereof, the parts in their then position being substantially shown in Figure 2, the numeral 31 designating the can. In accomplishing this preliminary operation, the pressure required to force the tooth 14 through the head of the can may be applied upon the end of the handle 24-. After the tooth la has been inserted, the device as a unit is moved upon the tooth 14: as a pivot until the base member 10 is parallel with the head of the can. During the last portion of this movement the tooth 15 is alsofprojected through the head of the can and the lugs 13 rest thereon.

IV hen in this position which is shown in Figure 1, the face 18 of the tooth 14 is against the underside of the head of the can, the lugs 13 rest upon the top thereof and the tooth 15 projected therethrough. Thus the can is held against movement relatively to the base member 10 by reason of the teeth 1 4 and 15. 'The operator now swings the arm 23 upon its pivot mounting and then about the-axis of the post 19 until the cutter is moved to one side of thebase member 10. A light pressureis now ap plied to the handle 24 and the sharpened and pointed end of the cutter 28is forced through the top of the can.

The operator now grasps the handle portion 11 in one hand and the handle 2A in the other hand and moves the arm 23 about the axis of the post 19. By this movement a circular cut is made through the head of the can, after which the cutterQS is withdrawn from the end of the can and replaced in the opening 16, the base member 10 moved to the position substantially as shown in Figure 2 and then withdrawi'i.

The carriage 25 being slidable upon the arm 23, the cutter-28 can be moved toward and away from theaxis of the post 19 so as to accommodate cans of various sizes.

For cleansing purposes the carriage 25 carrying with it the cutter 28 may be disassembled by first pulling off the handle 24 from the end of the arm 23 and then sliding the carriage off the end of the arm 23. This is a simple operation requiring practically no skill and the carriage may be replaced with equal facility.

Within the scope of the appended claims, minor changes and alterations may be made and I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is;

1. A can opener having a member with means connected therewith adjacent to 'one end for attachment to the head of the can a handle at the opposite end and a cutter openingtherein, an arm having a universal joint connection with said member, and a cutter movably mounted upon said arm, the said cutter in its inoperative position pro- .jecting into the said ,cutter openin z parts thereon that project through the can and hold the same against relative move ment; a swivel member movablyconnected therewith; an arm pivotally connected with said swivel member; a carriage slidable upon said arm, portions thereof being upon opposite sides of said arm and lying substantially parallel therewith; a cutter projecting through said carriage and having an opening therein and through which projects said arm; and spring means for holding said carriage against accidental movement upon said arm. j

4:. A can openerhaving a member with parts thereon that project through the can and hold the same against relative movement and having a post thereon; a swivel member pivotally mounted upon said post; an arm pivotallyconnected with said swivel member, the axis of the pivot mounting of said arm being at substantially a rightangle to the axis of said post; a substantially U- shaped carriage slidable upon said arm with its parallel sides substantially parallel with two sides of said arm and having cutter openings therethrough; spring means connected with said carriage having contact with said arm to hold said carriage in its adjusted positions; and a cutter supported in said carriage and through which said arm projects.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affiXGCl my signature.

WILLIAM S. PERRY. 

